ONE PICTURE IS WORTH 10,000 TURDS

Sunday, 28 February 2010

BRING BACK HANGING (PARLIAMENTS)

COMPULSORY FLUORIDE IS TYPICAL OF GOVERNMENTS WITH TOO MUCH POWER
As the General Election draws closer one cannot help but wonder how this is likely to affect the fluoridation issue. Although hurried through parliament, the legislation to speed up fluoridation does not at this stage appear any closer and the legal challenges from Hampshire Against Fluoride is only delaying it further. Even if Labour gets in again with a working majority, the main demands on the NHS and the growing debt mountain in the UK are going to make it increasingly difficult to promote or install the infrastructure required for implementation.
If the Tories get in i think fluoridation would be even less likely, they are always much more ready to cut expenditure and costs whether its needed or not and the last thing they will want is to get of to a bad start involving arguments about fluoride and its costs which of course include legal costs. There is also much debate and concern about the possibility of a "Hung Parliament" which occurs when neither of the main parties is elected with a large majority.
I for one believe that a Hung Parliament is exactly what the doctor ordered for our stuttering democracy. The two main parties are terrified of such an occurrence and cite many reasons why its such a bad thing. they say for instance that it allows minority parties to hold the country to ransom and exert power above and beyond their real influence. But surely in a real democracy smaller parties and independents is exactly what the doctor ordered.
A wider range of issues gets represented and there is a much better quality of debate when no party has such a huge majority that it can force outrageous laws onto the books. Look for example at the dreadful damage done to the industry in this country by combination of Reagonomics and Thatcherism. Thatcher was able to say the most ludicrous things and be taken seriously whilst paving the way for the excesses of the Neocons. Who can forget such environmentally absurd statements as "the great car economy" or "there's no such thing as society" and dreadfully unsustainable policies as the "dash for gas". This latter assisted by the forcible closure of the coal mines ensured that our north sea gas and oil reserves would be used up in record time. Now we have to depend on that nice Mr Putin for our future gas and energy supplies.
Thatcher also brought us the City of Londons "big Bang" in 1986. This essentially computerised and automated much of the big money transactions whilst at the same time removing much of the regulation and control, thus enabling the banks to run up huge debts at the expense of the depositor and the tax payer whilst a few big banks could live off funny money and grotesque bonus schemes.
This get rich quick, loads-a-money economy has given rise to an ongoing dumbing down of the last two generations who think of nothing but becoming celebrities of the most trivial kind on a diet of junk fast food, binge drinking, and the most dreadful and formulaic music onc can imagine. Best of all was the Tories privitasation of the water companiess, which placed our most precious resource in the hands of a few multinationals and their shareholders. From film i have seen even the K Factor which allowed the water companies to increase prices by something like 5 percent above inflation seems to have disappeared into the pockets of shareholders whilst the infrastructure continues to rot.
And what of New Labour and its fabulous landslide elections.? I actually raised the question of Landslides and they damage they could cause with Tony Blair on live national radio a couple of days before the election of 2000 AD. It caught him off guard at first but he soon settled into the familiar arguments about minority parties, etc etc. If truth be told however, Labour has been every bit as damaging to our democracy as was its predecessor, although it has taken a different tack.
Once Blair and his ilk realised they could pass new laws easily they quickly acquired the habit of doing so. Change for the sake of change has been the only game in their lexicon and the terrorist outrages on both sides of the big pond have furnished them with all the excuses they ever needed. Now we have bio-passports, retinal scans, compulsory (sooner or later) ID Cards, ASBOs and lots of other increased police powers and CCTV cams beyond counting. Our privacy and our democracy has been severely damaged and the government does not seem minded to give up this masturbatory fantasy of a world power with international domination rights it has contracted from the USA.
Our first past the post system enables a minority of the electorate to elect governments with gigantic majorities which can do anything they damn well like and the opposition is rendered completely impotent. The majority of people genuinely do not feel represented. Fluoridation of drinking water is a major case in point. A very dangerous, untested bi-product of industries such as pesticides, aluminium and even the nuclear weapons industry is not just given to people under some junk science pretext but its actually forced upon them via the drinking water. Its bad enough that clean and potable water is a shrinking resource due to population growth and squandering, we now have governments prepared to make it compulsory to have remaining stocks poisoned along with the wider environment.
The nut cases who promote this filthy crap are not satisfied with this however, they are alaready putting it in the schoolkids milk in parts of Sheffied and Derbyshire and have advised LIDL supermarkets to add it to salt. Clearly they are hell bent on forcing as much of this stuff down our throats with or without our consent or co-operation. If this is not bad enough their are even, as predicted by campaigners, calls for the addition of Statins or Lithium Salts to our drinking water. So we get a few crackpots in our current government who have swallowed all the junk science and even give money to organisations promoting it. Many of these have no relevent medical or scientific skills and certainly no right to prescribe.
A hung parliament would not end all of this of course, but it would at least force a more rigorous and detailed debate and with a bit of luck only measures and laws deemed scientifically credible and just would be passed. Lets put an end to vote catching scams and yielding to the interests of corporations and concentrate on genuine health care and diets and the first step towards this will be to cut down on fat landslides, and make our system more fair and proportional. The fact that the money markets are worried by the prospect of a hung parliament only gives me more confidence that this is the correct way to proceed. I have seen over the last thirty years, Landslide governts of both the right and the left but these labels no long fit, they are both the same and cannot be trusted with unlimited power. So, Lets not give these power hungry and greedy retards the means to compel and bully ordinary people, vote for debate, vote for sensible laws made by sensible governments.... vote for proportional representation, and minorities and independence and remind all those who seek election that they are being elected to serve and definitely not to rule and just like most ordinary folks, there is no job for life with a cherry on the top. They are neither fit nor competent to do so. If they want our respect, they will have to earn it and if they want to medicate us in any way against our wishes via the water and food supplies, just tell them No Thanks.

Monday, 8 February 2010

MORE THINGS THAT OUR MPs JUST DONT GET

Fresh Water, a Dwindling Resource

The World including our own little island, is now running short of clean drinking water due to growing population and profligate use. Remaining surface and ground water resources are also increasingly polluted from a wide variety of sources, be they industrial, agricultural or domestic. Many modern and commonly used chemicals are virtually impossible or at least prohibitively expensive to remove once they have contaminated our water and although the amounts remaining after treatment and filtration may seem small, their scope must be a matter of growing concern. There are now a vast array of contaminants. Very many of them have not received any long term testing whether in exclusion or in combination and many of these have not been tested at all. The effects of this toxic cocktail upon humans and wildlife are little known. We do know however that there are many carcinogens and mutagens amongst them which we should not be ingesting at all.
The only sane approach to protect our fresh water resources and our health therefore must be to employ the precautionary principle and whenever possible restrict and control usage and disposal of potentially dangerous substances.

Fluoride in its many forms has been around longer than most chemicals in common usage but amazingly despite much hype on its "safeness and effectiveness" has never been properly tested and such research that has been carried out has caused increasing concern amongstenvironmentalists, toxicologists and epidemiologists. In view of all this, it beggars belief that we have a government, which not only ignores all the latest research and as usual, the advice of its own expert scientists but then replaces democracy, debate, consultation, science, and reason with compulsion, by giving the unelected and arguably incompetent SHAs and PCTs decision making powers above and beyond all local decision making.
In the last year there has been much debate and anger among the public about how out of touch our Elected Members or whatever party have become with the real world and their electorate. Even when found out in their borderline legal expenses claims they still wriggle and whinge. Pulling all the above together, I can think of no more glaring example of this failure in competence, trust and democracy than their desire to impose compulsory mass medication on the public by fluoridation of the water supply. Even the most out of touch MP cannot truly be unaware of the impending environmental crisis and that the UK is not somehow immune from this. Pollution comes in many forms, not just CO2 emissions but only the very most stupid and ignorant of governments could respond to the growing crisis of shrinking drinking water resources by not only advocating compulsory pollution of these resources with fluoride but also using it as political football and compounding their dishonesty by fiddling and rejecting their own experts advice in favour of junk science, out of date by several decades, and high-handed bullying .
Just as MPs of all parties have fiddled with their expenses claims we have current low calibre Government Ministers such as Home Secretary Johnson and Health Minister Andy Burnham(sic) who have fiddled the evidence on fluoride to support their quackery and for why? Put simply, to further their shabby short term political goals and justify and disguise their stupidity. Fortunately the public are wising up to their duplicity and rejecting their campaign goals as selfish, unworkable and undemocratic. The public don't want fluoridation and even its advocates often change their mind when confronted by reliable facts and figures.. In countless surveys and polls across the UK, they have soundly rejected water fluoridation in favour of better education and dentistry services, the latter of which have suffered badly under the current regime. Thanks to the coming General and Local Elections, we now have the chance to lobby and vet the candidates of all parties and give the boot to those who persist in meddling with and damaging our health services and our democracy. Confront your candidates and ask them whether they support this nonesense before you make any decisions or choices. Say No To Fluoride and Fluoridation and say it loud.

Monday, 1 February 2010

STEM CELL RESEARCH STORY SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO FLUORIDE CAMPAIGNERS

According to the BBC News Web Site this morning, "Stem cell experts say they believe a small group of scientists is effectively vetoing high quality science from publication in journals. It has also emerged that 14 leading stem cell researchers have written an open letter to journal editors in order to highlight their dissatisfaction. In the case of stem cell research, there are billions of pounds of money for research at stake and the implication is that this research is being cherry picked with only mediocre research which fits the accepted profile getting the major publicity.

Obviously the problems of getting fluoride research properly peer-reviewed are not exactly the same and the sums of cash at stake are smaller but nevertheless, the parallels are clear. Companies eager to get rid of silica fluorides certainly gain by maintaining the absurd and pathetic allegiance to fluoride and a blind belief in its safety and clearly the number of private dentists has not declined in line with the decline in dental caries whether or not this is attributable to fluoride or the general improvement in dental health since world war 2.

It is galling however to anyone concerned to get the real facts about fluoride and its dangers into the media to constantly see limp-wristed pro-fluoride rubbish with very poor science constantly quoted whilst good peer reviewed warnings about fluoride disappear by slight of hand. The same old quotes and terminology such as "optimal fluoride" or "safe and effective" are clear examples that the pro-fluoride science(sic) is not only weak, but was also out of date when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Sadly it would seem that these dinosaurs still roam the earth to this day.

Friday, 8 January 2010

DAVID ROSE, VETERAN CAMPAIGNER DIES SUDDENLY

It is with very great sadness that I have to announce the death of my friend and co-campaigner Mr David Rose, of Colne in Lancashire. He was founder and Chairman of the Millennium Green Trust. a long term member of Friends of the Earth at both the National and Local Group levels, and A tireless campaigner against pollution in its many forms, for wildlife habitats, and against planning outrages, and the red tape which often protected polluters. It goes without saying that he was a reader and contributor to this blog and our mailing list at ( fluoride@foe.co.uk )
When FoE and local groups and residents halted the building of the M65 extension through Colne, it was his inspiration and hard work which led to the transformation of motorway-blighted land in the town, into the Colne Millennium Green which now provides a green lung and excellent community amenity. I and many others here and on various campaign networks will miss his creative energy, his wit and his companionship and we send all our condolences and blessings to his wife and his daughter.
BRIAN JACKSON
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

Tuesday, 22 December 2009

A NEW YEAR DAWNS BUT THE OLD FIGHT CONTINUES

As 2010 appears over the Eastern Horizon it would be nice to think that this is the year that fluoride and fluoridation is finally destroyed. Even a cursory glance at the information on fluoride tells us that its extremely toxic, whether natural or man-made, and it simply does not work to protect teeth but damges them and many other vital parts of the human body. We know its never been thoroughly tested and that idiots such as the British and American Governments and their paymasters in major industries mare in complete denial. it would be nice to think that they are just misguided and well-meaning but clearly in most cases other than the most niave and blinkered dentists still living in the past, this is not the case.
The pro-fluoride movement is driven by a bunch of materialistic and greedy industries and their puppets who will say anything to increase their profits and clearly dont really care at all. A good example is the latest development with LIDL Supermarkets in Scotland. The Scottish Assembly of MSPs and the Scottish National Party Aided by the Green Party rejected clearly any attempts to add fluoride to the water supply North of the Border but the chief dental officer in Scotland, alarmed that it might harm his reputation or possibly his pocket has lobbied LIDL and convinced them that they should now sell fluoridated salt. One would think that salt was not already a problem without making it toxic as well.
I strongly urge LIDL customers and would be customers to avoid ChanteSel salt with added fluoride. Cutting down on salt is a good idea, cutting down on this muck is a very good idea> People can of course buy the stuff if they want and to be fair, LIDL are also selling un corrupted salt so the element of consumer choice is still in tact but sadly salt is one of those things deemed essential by many and most people dont look clearly at the labels. Most Scottish friends of mine enjoy a nice cup of tea or indeed several as much as I do and arguably are already receiving more than enough fluoride from that source. Add to this processed meals and junk foods, especially processed foods manufactured and processed in areas with water fluoridation such as the West Midlands and Newcastle and its probable that many are already ingesting too much. As a result there is no control of of the total dosage and individual or a group of individuals actually receives daily, weekly etc. A little from a wide variety of sources can add up to a lot and as up to 50% of ingested fluoride is not eliminated from the body, high and potentially dangerous levels of fluoride can accumulate over time.
With the current cold weather and snow and ice, i have purchased much more salt than i would normally ever use to reduce the lethal nature of my footpaths and steps. I did however check carefully that none of it contained fluoride because our outside drains flow directly into our local river and according to one Canadian study discovered, even levels of fluoride well below the alleged safe dose of 1 part per million were capable of halting salmon and salmonids such as trout incapable of breeding As a veteran water pollution campaigner with Friends of the Earth i would be neglecting my duties if i poured crap into my or anyone else's rivers.
Next year is General Election Year so when prospective candidates of ANY PARTY come knocking on your door or sending you letters and leaflets asking for you votes whether for local or National election. Question them carefully about how they stand on water fluoridation or the adulteration of foods and milk with this crap. And if they cannot give you their assurance that they are actively against the practice, just give them the bums rush. In the meantime tell all your friends and neighours of the dangers this chemical poses and if you can join one of the groups or organisations dedicated to eradicating this poison from the human diet and the wider environemtn. There are more than enough toxins in our food and water as it is without adding more and as for those who advocate the addition of fluoride to childrens milk i regard it as a form of child abuse and the perpetrators should lose their jobs immediatley for the good of all.
In the meantime i wish you all a Happy Solstice, a Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy New Year, 2010.

Thursday, 10 December 2009

TIME TO DUMP THE DEADLY DOC

TIME TO DUMP THE DEADLY DOC

FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK http://www.FluorideAlert.Org
FAN Bulletin 2000: Mildura, 'the little town that roared' needs your helpDecember 2009Mildura, 'the little town that roared'In a press release issued yesterday fluoridation fighters in Mildura, Australia sent a letter signed by fluoridation activists and several scientists from around the world, calling for the resignation of Dr. John Carnie, the Chief Health Officer for Victoria. Dr Carnie continues to force fluoridation on communities without giving them any opportunity to vote on the matter; without willing to debate the issue in public and without answering basic questions submitted to him in writing by 20 professionals. This is how you can help this effort. We want authorities in Victoria to know that the whole world is watching how they deal with this situation, so please consider adding your name to the letter sent to the Victorian Health Minister yesterday, details below. He will keep receiving copies of this letter with the new names added.

HOW YOU CAN HELP.....

To sign on to this letter please send your name, town/city and country and a one sentence description of who you are to me at pconnett@gmail.com and afam.daniel@gmail.com also state in the email that you want to be a signee of the letter. Daniel will be forwarding your names to the Victorian Health Minister and I will be keeping count this end so that I can share progress reports with you.


Updates showing the number of signees can be found on http://fluoridealert.org/australia.carnie.letter.html
Thank you in anticipation of your support.
Paul Connett-------------------------------Demand for Dr. Carnie's resignation

Press Release - Friday, December 4, 2009
The Anti-Fluoridation Association of Mildura, along with other Victorian safe water groups, and a number of health and scientific professionals, are calling for the resignation of Dr. John Carnie, Victoria's Chief Health Officer. The call comes as community discontent with the Government's mandatory fluoridation policy grows.Today, the following letter was sent to Victoria's Health Minister, Daniel Andrews.


Dear Minister Andrews,
We are outraged by your government's continued efforts to force fluoridation on communities without giving citizens a chance to vote on the matter. In this matter the behaviour of Dr. John Carnie has gone beyond anything one would expect or should tolerate from a civil servant. Let us explain.Most recently Dr. Carnie's refusal to respond to the basic questions put to him by a number of Australian and international health and scientific professionals, in line with his "no debate policy," has outraged many in Mildura and around the world.While Dr. Carnie may truly and honestly believe that fluoridation is safe and effective, public health policy needs to be more than a belief system. It needs to be supported by honest and accurate science that can be defended when challenged.

Dr. Carnie has:a) made statements to the public which are inaccurate as well as others which are biased and misleading (see attachment 1)b) refused to defend his beliefs in public debate (see attachment 2)c) failed to answer direct questions addressed to him by Australian and international experts (see attachment 3).Despite this he is still prepared to force this measure on communities, even when a sizeable number of people in those communities, who have researched this issue for themselves, have made it clear that they do not want to be forced to drink fluoridated water. The only way to determine whether such resistance to this measure is coming from a minority of the population or a majority is to give the electorate of each community the chance to vote on the matter. But this opportunity has again been denied to them by Dr. Carnie.

This is a blatant example of the "arrogance of power."When politicians behave in this way, at least the electorate has a chance to make their feelings known at the next election, but Dr. Carnie is not a politician but a civil servant making his arrogance immune from normal democratic processes.

The only alternative for those who believe that Dr. Carnie is failing in his job to protect the health of the people, as exemplified by his unwillingness to answer basic questions on a practice he is prepared to force on them, is to seek his resignation. What other recourse do citizens have when their democratic rights are denied?Thus, we call upon the Minister to set in motion proceedings which will examine this complaint and if he feels that it has merits to remove Dr. Carnie from his position forthwith.We would add that this issue goes well beyond the dangers posed by fluoridation. If it becomes clear - as it has in this case - that public health policies are not based on sound science that can be defended in public and in writing -it will erode the public's trust in the institutions set up - at their expense - to protect their health and the environment.

The loss of that trust threatens our society in many ways and should not be taken lightly by the politicians running Victoria.As you will note from the signatures below, this issue is receiving attention well beyond Victoria and the shores of Australia. We expect the worldwide attention to grow as the shocking behaviour of Dr. Carnie is revealed to a larger audience. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, "injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere."We look forward to hearing your swift response to this complaint.Sincerely,